Automatic sprinkler



i 1, 1931. A. D. PHILLIPS AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER Filed Aug. 22; 1929 Patented Apr. 21, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE ALFRED DEAN PHILLIPS, F CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER COMPANY OF AMERICA, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER Application filed August 22, 1929.

This invention relates to sprinkler heads for use on a sprinkler pipe system for the purpose of discharging the extinguish ng fluid and, more specifically, relates to mprovements whereby sprinkler heads which are arranged in a pendant or hanging position may be conveniently drained.

Other objects of the invention and the features of novelty will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, of which Fig.1 is a side elevation of a portion of a sprinkler pipe system with sprinkler heads therein which embody my invention;

Fig. 2' is an enlarged longitudinal section through one of the sprinkler heads shown in Fig. 1, with the operating key in posltion therein;

. Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse section on line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a perspective new of the draining valve I 0 Fig. 5 is a plan view of the securlng washer for the draining valve; j

1 Fig; 6 is a fragmentary longltudinal View through a sprinkler head showing another form of the invention;

7 is a similar view of still another form; and V Fig. 8 is a side elevation ofa portion of the actuating key. 0

Referring to the drawings, 10 ind cates a supply pipe, for the extlnguishing fl uld, having the fittings or Ts 11 therein in whloh the sprinkler heads 12 are arranged n a pendent or hanging position, as when the pipe 10 is arranged in or near the ceiling of a room. The sprinkler heads 12 may be of any of the usual constructions and, for illustration, I have shownacommon form of sprinkler head which, in its elements, 1S typical of the sprinkler heads that are commonly used. The sprinkler head 12 has a discharge opening 13 that 1s normally olosed by a cap or valve 14 whlch is held to 1ts seat by a pair of toggle links 15 which are held by a fusible link or element 16. By this arrangement, whenever the temperature of the link 16 rises tothe fusion oint, the toggle links 15*will bereleased an j the pres- Serial No. 387,586.

sure, in the pipe system, acting on the valve 14,. will force the latter ofi its seat and the extinguishingfluid will then be discharged through the opening 13 against the spreader 17 which will cause the extinguishing fluid to be distributed over a considerable area. a

The features of the sprinkler head, thus far described, are in common use and my invention consists in the addition of certain features for the purpose of enabling the eX- tinguishing fluid to be drained from the sprinkler heads without disconnecting the latter from the pipe system. In sprinkler systems of the type known as dry pipe systems the pipin is normally filled with air so that this type of system is adapted for use in buildings that are subjected to freezing temperatures. hen a fire occurs one or more of the sprinkler heads 12 is automatically opened and this releases air from the pipe system and suitable automatic devices, not shown, admit water or other extinguishing fluid to the system and this will be dis charged through the open sprinkler heads. However, the water will also enter the heads which remain unopened and it is necessary,

in restoring the system to operative condition, to drain all of the sprinkler heads which contain the extinguishing fluid so that they willnot freeze up and become damaged or inoperative. Heretofore the draining of these sprinkler heads has been accomplished by removing themfrom the pipe system and then putting them back into position and my invention provides a more convenient means for draining the sprinkler heads without removing them from the pipe system, thereby saving considerable time and also avoidin the possibility of damage to merchandise or other articles from water which might fall onto the same when the sprinkler heads are removed from the pipe system.

In carrying out my invention I provide on each sprinkler head a lateral extension 18 which, in the form illustrated in Fig. 2, has a cylindrical bore 19 that is arranged parallel with the axis 20 of the head, so that the bore '19'will usually be arranged in a substantially vertical. positionwhen the sprinkler head is in its normal position. The bore 19 is connected with the interior of the body 12, of the head, by means of a port 21, and a cylindrical valve 22 is arranged in the bore 19 to normally close off the port 21 so that there will be no flow therethrough. The valve 22 is preferably made of a non-ferrous spring material so that it has an expanding tendency and is thereby caused to closely fit the bore 19. In order to permit the valve 22 to expand it is provided with a slot 23 in one side. A ring or washer 24 is arran ed below the valve 22 and is provided wit a keyway 25 with which the slot 23 is adapted to be aligned when the valve 22 is in the closed position. The valve 22 and the washer 24 are retained in the bore 19 by an integral flange 25, on the extension 18, which is spun or otherwise turned over the outer end of the washer 24 after the valve and the washer have been placed in position in the bore 19. While I prefer to secure the valve 22 and the washer 24 in position by means of the integral flange 25, on account of the simplicity and low cost of this construction, it is to be understood that any other suitable means may be employed without departing from the spirit of my invention.

In order to actuate the valve 22 I provide :1 ko 26 which is preferably of tubular form and as a laterally extending lug 27 that may be inserted through the keyway 25 and into the slot 23 of the valve, as shown in Fig. 2. The opening 28 through the tubular key extends laterally through the lug 27, as shown at 29, so that when the key is turned 180 from the position shown in Fig. 2 the lateral opening 29 will be in alignment with the port 21 and permit the fluid to be drained out of the body of'the head and down through the opening 28. The key 26 has a handle 30 at its. lower end, and immediately above this handle there is a pan 31 that is adapted to receive the fluid that is discharged through the opening 28, an opening 32 being provided in the tubular portion of the handle to permit the fluid to be discharged into the pan 31.

()nv account of the arrangement of the keyway 25, it is necessary to rotate the valve 22 to its closed position in order to detach the key from the sprinkler head and, therefore, the arrangement insures that the valve 22 will be in the closed position under all normalconditions. The pan 31 is adapted to hold all of the fluid that is discharged from the sprinkler head and thus it is possible to drain the sprinkler head without having the fluid drop onto the operator or onto any merchandise on other article that may be located below the sprinkler head.

Inthe form of the invention shown in Fig. .6, a screw-threaded needle valve 33 is provided fol-the purpose of closing the port 21 and, on opening this valve, the. fluid in the sprinldea head may be discharged through the o ening 34. In the form illustrated in Fig. the port 21 has a valve seat 35 with which a valve 36 cooperates. This valve is normally held against the seat by means of the spring 37. The stem of the valve 36 has an external head 38 which may be pressed inwardly to open the valve and permit the fluid to be discharged from the interior of the sprinkler head through the opening 39.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. The combination with a fire extinguishing fluid supply pipe, of a sprinkler head depending therefrom comprising a body member having a discharge opening with a valve normally closing said opening and held in its closed position by means comprising a thermally controlled element, said body member having a second opening through which fluid may be drained from the body member when said valve is closed, and a manually operable valve for closing said second opening.

2. A sprinkler head comprising a body member adapted to be attached to an extinguishing fluid supply pipe and having a discharge opening with a valve normally closing said opening and held in its closed position by means comprising a thermally controlledelement, said body member having a second opening through which fluid may be drained from the body member when said valve is closed, said body member having a valve seat the axis of which is substantially parallel with the axis of the body member,a valve cooperating with said seat for controlling said second opening, and a tubular key for rotating the last mentioned valve and through which the fluid is discharged when said valve is in the open position.

3. A sprinkler head comprising a body member adapted to be attached to an extinguishing fluid supply pipe and having a discharge opening with a valve normally closing said opening and held in its closed position by means comprising a thermally controlled element, said body member having a second opening through which fluid may be drained from the body member when said valve is closed, said body member having a valve seat the axis of which is substantially parallel with theaxis of the body member, a valve cooperating with said seat for controlling said second opening, a tubular key for rotating the last mentioned valve and through which the fluid is discharged when said valve is in the open position, and said key having a pan thereon into which the fluid is received.

4. A sprinkler head comprising a body member adaptedto be attached to an extinguishing fluid supply pipe and having a discharge opening with a valve normally closing said opening and held in its closed position by means comprising a thermally controlled element, said body. member having a second pening through which fluid may. be

drained from the body member when said valve is closed, said body member having a cylindrical valve seat the axis of which is substantially vertical when the head is in position on said supply pipe, a hollow cylindrical valve engaging said seat and having a lateral opening adapted to register with said second opening, means for securing said cylindrical valve in position and also permit access to the interior of the valve, and a kev ada ted to be inserted through said securing means into said valve for opening and closing the valve.

5. A sprinkler head comprising a body member adapted to be attached to an extinguishing fluid supply pipe and having a discharge opening with a valve normally closing said opening and held in its closed position by means comprising a thermally controlled element, said body member having a second opening through which fluid may be drained from the body member when said valve is closed, said body member having a cylindrical valve seat the axis of which is substantially vertical when the head is in position on said supply pipe, a hollow cylindrical valve engaging said seat and having an axially extending slot adapted to register with said second opening, means for securing said cylindrical valve in position comprising a ring having a slot adapted to register with said slot in the cylindrical valve when the latter is closed, and a key having a lug for engagement with said slot in the cylindrical valve to turn said valve on its seat, and the parts being so arranged that said key can be inserted into said valve and removed therefrom only when the valve is closed.

6. A sprinkler head comprising a body member adapted to be attached to an extinguishing fluid supply pipe and having a discharge opening with a valve normally closing said opening and held in its closed position by means comprising a thermally controlled element, said body member having a second opening through which fluid may be drained from the body member when said valve is closed, said body member having a cylindrical valve seat the axis of which is substantially vertical when the head is in position on said supply pipe, a hollow cylindrical valve engaging said seat and having an axially extending slot adapted to register with said second opening, and means for securing said cylindrical valve in position comprising an integral flange on said body drained from the body member when said valve is closed, said second opening comprising a substantially cylindrical valve seat, a tubular valve engaging said cylindrical seat, and means for securing said valve in position comprising a ring engaging the outer end of the valve and an integral flange on said body member turned over said ring.

8. A sprinkler head comprising a body member adapted to be attached to an extinguishing fluid supply pipe and having a discharge opening with a valve normally closing said opening and held in its closed position by means comprising a thermally controlled element, said body member having a second opening through which fluid may be drained from the body member when said valve is closed, said second opening comprising a substantially cylindrical valve seat, a tubular valve engaging said cylindrical seat, means for securing said valve in position comprising a ring engaging the outer end of the valve and an integral flange on said body member turned over said ring, and said ring and said cylindrical valve having axially extending slots which are in registration when the valve is closed.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix my signature.

ALFRED DEAN PHILLIPS.

member which is turned over the outer end of V said valve. Y

7. A sprinkler head comprising a body member adapted to be attached to an extinguishing fluid supply pipe and having a discharge opening with a valve normally closing said opening and held in its closed position by means comprising a thermally controlled element, said body member having a second opening through which fluid maybe 

